Miley Cyrus Has an Unexpected Reason for Not Wanting Kids — & It Proves Her Strong Bond With Godmother Dolly Parton

Miley Cyrus isn’t quite sure if babies are in her future. And this feels like the perfect time to remind the internet (and Harrison Butker) that a woman doesn’t have to have children to have worth. She doesn’t have to have a reason for not wanting kids. She doesn’t have to share that reason (so stop asking). And she’s allowed to change her mind as many damn times as she pleases.

Capiche?

But in a candid interview with W Magazine, Cyrus revealed that she doesn’t know if motherhood is on the horizon. “I’m 31 now, and I still don’t know if I want kids or not,” she said. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel like a mom.

“I feel like my fans kind of are my kids in some way,” she said.

It’s an interesting and perhaps unexpected thing to hear from the “Flowers” singer. Her fans are like her kids? It’s a concept she’s probably been toying with for a long time. “I’ve heard Dolly say that too, because she didn’t have kids,” Cyrus said.

Yes, that Dolly. ICYMI: Cyrus’ godmother is Dolly Parton. She’s just one of many lucky kids with celebrity godparents. So this isn’t something the Hannah Montana star gleaned from one of Parton’s tracks. But probably something they discussed at family get-togethers and during intimate conversations.

About five years ago, in an interview with Elle, Cyrus said she wanted to fight the idea that reproducing is a woman’s purpose and should be their priority. (LOUDER FOR THE CHIEFS KICKER IN THE BACK!) The Grammy winner said she didn’t want to bring a child into a “piece of sh*t planet” that might not have fish in the water for them.

“We’re expected to keep the planet populated. And when that isn’t a part of our plan or our purpose, there is so much judgment and anger that they try to make and change laws to force it upon you — even if you become pregnant in a violent situation,” Cyrus said.

“If you don’t want children, people feel sorry for you, like you’re a cold, heartless b*tch who’s not capable of love,” she continued. “Why are we trained that love means putting yourself second and those you love first? If you love yourself, then what? You come first.”

And there’s nothing we want more for Cyrus than for her to put herself first and be surrounded by people like Parton who validate her feelings.